Key Thought : Materialistic persons, rich or poor, cannot serve God and money. We cannot allow the deceitfulness of riches to draw us away from Christ.

[Lesson plan for With the Rich and Famous February 17, 2014]

1. Have a volunteer read I Timothy 6:10.

a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. Why or how does the love of money cause many to depart from the faith?
c. Personal Application: What is your attitude toward rich people? Do you hold on to any stereotype that people have toward rich people? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “I guess poor people don’t have to worry about getting in trouble over riches being their downfall. They don’t have any.” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Matthew 9:10-13.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. What people wouldn’t you want to witness to or even believe you shouldn’t? Child molesters? Perverts? Liars? Thieves? Egotistical? Murderers? Drug dealers?
c. Personal Application: Think of someone you despise for something they have done. What if you had a chance to witness to them? What would you say? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Is Jesus telling us here that He didn’t come to save good people, but only those who were really bad sinners and knew it? Does He or doesn’t He distinguish between really bad people and good moral people in society?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

3. Have a volunteer read Mark 4:18,19.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What practical advice and spiritual warnings are found in the seed sown among thorns?
c. Personal Application: Share an example of when you felt valued based on the way you were treated? Does it happen often? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your friends states, “I may not have riches, but I sure would like to have some of the things that rich people have. But then, the more we have, the more we want it seems. We never have enough. If you live in North America, you are considered richer than ninety percent of the world’s population even if we don’t really consider ourselves rich. So what is rich anyway?” How would you respond to your friend?

4. Have a volunteer read Matthew 19:16-23.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Why is there tension between the rich and the poor? What guidance does the Scripture give us in dealing with that tension?
c. Personal Application: How is your church developing evangelistic strategies to reach the well-to-do in your community? What specific things could they do? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Note : “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.” MH p. 149.

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